Hi All, I am Vinay from IT for Change, an NGO in Bangalore.
The Gujarat government has announced a 500 crore ICT education program for its schools. (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rs-500-cr-for-computers-in-schools/405217/ ) .They have also said that they are inclined to opt for FOSS in the schools. They have not however fully decided. What has possibly queered the pitch is that Microsoft has said that they will offer windows for free. Getting FOSS in schools will greatly benefit the Gujarat government and all the students. Hence some of us are initiating a campaign to influence the government to decide in favour of FOSS. We need the support of the FOSS community here, especially the FOSS community from Gujarat. I am writing to ILUG-Bombay though since I heard that a lot of members here are supportive of the Gujarat FOSS scenario. If a lot of people from Gujarat join us in the campaign it will help to get the government to go the FOSS way. Showing the Gujarat government that there is a vibrant FOSS community might assure them that there might be support for them if they go the FOSS way. What will also tip the scale is if can show the government that a localised (Gujarati) distro of FOSS, localised FOSS apps exists, which can be used in schools. We need the help of the community here too - to help us figure out what apps/distros should be suggested. Requesting your support in this campaign. Please do write back to let us know if you can support us/ if you have any queries. Please do write back for any suggestions as well. Thanks, Vinay. -- Vinay Sreenivasa IT for Change 91-98805-95032 [email protected] http://itforchange.net http://india.is-watch.net/ http://is-watch.net -- http://mm.glug-bom.org/mailman/listinfo/linuxers
